AURICULA. 



Should there be offsets in April, or earlier, they may 

 be taken off, and planted, without waiting till the old 

 plants are removed. The following spring they will pro- 

 duce flowers, though but weakly. When past flowering, 

 remove them into larger pots ; and the second year they 

 will flower in perfection. When the old plants are trans- 

 planted, they should, if requisite, be removed into larger 

 pots. 



It must be either the Auricula or the Polyanthus de- 

 scribed by the poet in the following passage : 



" Oft have I brought thee flowers, on their stalks set 

 Like vestal primroses, but dark velvet 

 Edges them round, and they have golden pits." 



KEATS'S ENDYMION. 







The Auricula is to be found in the highest perfection in 

 the gardens of the manufacturing class, who bestow much 

 time and attention upon this and a few other flowers, as the 

 tulip and pink. A fine stage of these plants is scarcely 

 ever to be seen in the gardens of the nobility and gentry, 

 who depend upon the exertions of hired servants, and 

 cannot therefore compete in these nicer operations of gar- 

 dening with those who tend their flowers themselves, and 

 watch over their progress with paternal solicitude. 



The Auricula is not usually remarkable for fragrance, 

 but in the following lines it is celebrated for that also : 



" In comes the auricula ; arrayed she comes 

 In splendor, and in liveliest beauty blooms : 

 Scarce can the crystal lustre of her eye 

 With her rich garments' glossy satin vie : 

 Around her bed the sweet perfumes arise, 

 And clouds of unseen incense mount the skies." 



I. V. T. * 



* From Time's Telescope for 1822, p. 189. 



